While we had a bit of snow just in time for the Christmas holiday, it only lasted for two days and was just enough to make it look pretty. Even then though, the air was warm and calm.

This morning however, we awoke to a blanket of white and biting winds. As I write now, there are large flakes of snow accumulating and everything around is grey. The air is bitter, too and for the first time we need to dress in layers.

But I am ready. For the past couple of months I have been hoarding my winter supplies. We have plenty of cat food and litter, canned goods and dry goods and even bottle water that will get us through whatever mother nature will send our way. While my partner Keith teases me about my hoarding, I feel pretty good about it now knowing that I am prepared. “Bring it on!” I say.

I realize that I am posting a bit late again this morning. It wasn’t because I decided to sleep in or anything like that, but rather it was because Keith decided he is going to get up earlier. I don’t know if it is a new year’s resolution of his or if he plans to make it a habit, but it certainly disrupted my schedule a bit. (Not in a really bad way – it just mixed things up a bit!) Usually, I am the one who falls asleep somewhere around 10:30 pm. This allows me to get up sometime after 5am. I have always been like that and as most of you who read in the morning know, that is the time I take to write and what I call my quiet time.

Keith on the other hand is a night owl. He likes to stay up sometimes to 1 – 3am. Because of this, he doesn’t usually awake until between 8-9 in the morning. This is fine with me, as it give us both some ‘space’ and we each have some time to ourselves in our little place. But there are days that are just ‘off’ and this seemed to be one of them.

So we got dressed early and headed to the gym and ran to get milk early. I thought that I would be most efficient that way and Keith was agreeable to going in early. I am glad I did because now it is around 9am and our footprints from this morning are already covered over and it is snowing harder than ever. But we are prepared. :)

I had a wonderfully fun day yesterday. I cut the lettering into all my little heart ornaments. I know it may sound silly but it was so much fun to do so. There is something that brings so much satisfaction when everything is set up properly and you accomplish. It is sometimes hard to describe. I have used the tag line “Knowledge is Power” for many years now and yesterday was one of those times when I really felt the impact of those words. While the project that I am creating isn’t what would be seen as ‘easy’, I truly feel that anyone can accomplish it with a little knowledge and using the right techniques. It really makes me want to share with others and show them how to do this. Perhaps it is the teacher in me.

I am really thinking about doing a video to show how to do these little hearts. I think that the technique can be applied to lots of different things and can be generally helpful for scroll sawyers. Once again, I am wishing for that 24 hour day!

Today I am at the point where all 24 hearts are cut out and I need to finish peeling the patterns off of them and sand and finish them.

I want to stain the plywood hearts too for a variation. I have already had several people ask me about the patterns so I need to work on getting them finished as quickly as I can. But more important to me, I need to take my time and do a good job on them. There were a few ‘tweaks’ in the line work that need to be done and I want to make sure that everyone can make achieve them easily.

So with that said, I had better get to work. At this point I will be able to continue on working on them even if I lose power. So I am in a good place.

I wish you all a wonderfully productive day too. Keep thinking warm thoughts!

4 comments so far

Great looking hearts, and a very good job on the scroll work as usual. I was 49 degrees F yesterday andshould get to 51 today here in balmy Missoula, Mt. The weatherman keeps hinting that we might get somewinter, but I am getting impatient. Glad to hear you are all set with plenty of supplies and work in the shopto keep you busy.

Hi Sheila, being born in Australia and never gone overseas, I have never seen snow(exept in pictures). we are in summer now with 39 degrees C or 102 degrees F . we are not worried about being snowed in but bush fires. I live close to the city so thats not to big a problem for me Thank God. love your work and can understand the feeling of satasfaction at seeing what you have made. have a wonderful day.